I love traveling with my family–no really, I’m not being sarcastic. Things can get kind of crazy with five kids in tow but something magical happens when we travel together. You know what I don’t love though? Planning for the trip. In theory I feel like the planning aspect is something that I should love. In reality I spend hours and hours sitting in front of the computer trying to find accommodations that will fit our family. Let alone, at a decent price and isn’t too far away from all the action. Today I’m excited to share my tips for where to stay in Carlsbad, California. This post is in collaboration with Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel conveniently located in Carlsbad, California. They were generous enough to host our family during our stay. All opinions are completely my own.

For our recent trip to Legoland in Carlsbad, California I had been researching different hotels in the area. I came across the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel when a friend of mine stayed there. I thought the family pool area with the splash pad seemed like something my kids would love. Then when I was checking out their website I saw all their different room options and I was sold.

where to stay in Carlsbad, California

Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel

spacious accommodations

Remember the biggest hassle about vacation planning for me, finding accommodations large enough to fit our family? Well, the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort offers a room type for every travel need out there. They have rooms with a single king bed to three bedroom suites that sleep up to 10! Our family stayed in a two bedroom suite that gave us plenty of room. We ended up having our girls stay in the front bedroom and our son sleep on the pull-out sofa. A television in every room meant that mom and dad even got to sleep in a little.

When I say they’re spacious I’m not exaggerating either. For example, the three bedroom suite is 1533 square feet–that’s almost as big as the house we live in! During our stay our room had all the bedding, towels, dishes, and toiletries we might need. I also appreciated the small store down in the lobby for any little incidentals you might have forgotten to pack. The hotel is very conveniently located to lots of stores, but sometimes at the end of a long day you don’t want to go anywhere.

Make yourself at home: With a full kitchen we were able to eat some of our meals right in our room. When we found ourselves with some filthy clothes we were able to wash them in the guest laundry.

family-friendly amenities for your Carlsbad stay

We could have spent days just at the hotel and I think my kids would have been perfectly happy. I stopped by the concierge desk upon arrival and was handed a calendar of the week’s activities. Each day of the week they offer planned activities. Some cost a little money, but many are free. On Saturday afternoon, for example, we took a break from Legoland in the afternoon and went back to the hotel for some swimming and jumping in their bounce house. The resort also has a fire pit where they have schedule s’mores in the evening. You can even bring your own s’more makings like we did.

| Vacation Condos in Carlsbad |

My kids also had a fun time exploring the playground and checking out the activities center and the game room. The activities center is where a lot of the planned activities will take place. There’s also a jukebox, pool table, building blocks, and lots of books to read that you can enjoy anytime. You can also pick up all the pool towels you need either from here or from the front desk.

| 48 Hours in Carlsbad with Kids |

If you happen to be traveling sans kids the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel also has an adults-only pool and spa that is quite a peaceful retreat. It overlooks the ocean and the Carlsbad Flower Fields and is a beautiful oasis anytime of day.

Holiday highlight: If you’re lucky enough to visit during the holidays make sure to check out the gorgeous decorations in the lobby! It’s definitely a photo op you won’t want to miss. The restaurants and attractions in the area also become quite festive. Be sure to check your activity guide for all the fun happening that day.

location, location, location

You know how they say in real estate location is everything? Well the same is true for hotels! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to stay far away from our final destination. Whether because we were trying to save a few bucks or there wasn’t anything that would work for our family. Grand Pacific Palisades Resort could not be in a better location. It’s surrounded by restaurants and retail stores, and so close to Legoland that you can walk. LEGOLAND is literally right next to the hotel with a pedestrian entrance that makes it a super quick walk. When we went back into the park on Saturday evening we decided to walk instead of drive and were surprised by how close it was!

As far as shopping goes, several restaurants and stores are within just a few minutes’ drive. These include: Karl Strauss Brewing Company (located on property), Carlsbad Premium Outlets, grocery stores, and Costco.

And let’s talk about the view. We got to the hotel after it was already dark on Friday so we couldn’t see anything from our balcony. The next morning when I pulled back the curtains I was speechless. Our two bedroom suite looked out over the ocean and was directly over the Carlsbad Flower Fields. I can only imagine how incredible that would be in springtime when the Flower Fields are in full bloom.

Grand Pacific Palisades is also an easy drive to several other area attractions in Carlsbad and the greater San Diego area including:

• Carlsbad Tide Pools, 2 miles–be sure to go at low tide for best viewing. Nice beach area for sun bathing or picnicking too.
• Carlsbad Village, 4 miles–cute downtown area for shopping and restaurants. Great photo ops!
• South Carlsbad State Beach, 6.5 miles–great place for swimming, surfing, fishing, and picnicking.
• San Diego Safari Park, 20 miles–a zoo like no other with 1,800 acres to explore.
• Old Town San Diego, 30 miles–beautiful historic area of San Diego, lots of great restaurants, shops, and restored buildings and exhibits.
• SeaWorld San Diego, 30 miles–a zoo, aquarium, and them park all in one. Their Christmas celebration lasts through January 6th.

Live like a local: Upon check-in I was encouraged to stop by the concierge desk. I’m so glad I did because she kindly suggested several local restaurants to check out. We also got discounts and special offers for many local businesses. Be sure to check out Carlsbad Village if you have some time to walk around. If you’re in the mood for Mexican food we highly recommend Miguel’s Cocina for some yummy chips and queso and a flautas appetizer!

it’s the little things

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a place so special. That’s how I feel about the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel. Every member of the staff that we encountered was so friendly and helpful. We were told exactly where to park to be closest to the elevator and which elevator to take to our suite. Fresh flowers were waiting for us when we checked into our room.  When we arrived to our room the towels were folded into animals on the beds which delighted my children. I found everything to be incredibly clean and tidy. The laundry room machines conveniently took cards instead of quarters. All these little things add up and leave a big impression making the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel somewhere I would love to take my family to again.

Do you have a favorite go-to place that always makes your vacation extra perfect? Would you stay here in Carlsbad?